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The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Natalie Turnbough from the Dent County Women’s Crisis Center came in to introduce herself to the commission as she has taken over the position from Nikki Eaton. She wanted to ask the commission if they would allow the Women’s Crisis Center to use the courthouse lawn for the Awareness Month displays. The first would be the Sexual Violence Awareness Month in April and the second would be the Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. A banner would also be hung above the Gazebo during the awareness months. The Commissioners agreed to allow her to use the courthouse lawn for the in-ground displays for a period of about 10 to 14 days during the Awareness Months as the grass will still have to be cut and maintained, but the banner can stay up the entire months of awareness. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that materials would be added and grading would be done to Dent County Road 6580 while grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5170, 5220 and 5615. Purcell said that brush would be cut on Dent County Road 6470. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated that materials would be added and grading would be done on Dent County Road 4050 while grading will be done on Dent County Roads 2550 and 4380. Larson said that brush would be cut on Dent County Road 3050. He will also be attending the Dent County Extension Council banquet tonight representing the county commission. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that he was in Jefferson City Wednesday to visit with legislators and came away feeling that a bill amending the County Budget law is on track, but it does have a four year sunset. He also attended the Central Region Workforce Investment Board caucus that same day and they are dealing with staff reductions while at the same time experiencing a larger than normal amount of clientele. Skiles stated that he would be in Van Buren on Saturday attending a forum on the National Park Service’s updated General management Plan that is being hosted by Representative Jo Ann Emerson. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that a set of keys was found at the courthouse and if anyone has lost their keys, the set is in her office. She also said that the first day to signup for the August primary would be Tuesday February 28^th unless the state elects to extend the deadline. If someone is interested in running for a county office, they must know the Dent County policies, proper procedures, the documents that must be completed and filed, and the filing fee required for that position. Curley said that Dent County does NOT use a lotto basis to sign up to run for office, it is done on a first come, first serve basis on February 28^th. She also said that absentee voting is currently going on at the Dent County Courthouse for the April election, the last day to register to vote for the April election is March 7^th, and the last day to get a ballot mailed out for the April election will March 28^th. For more information about running for office, registering to vote or the lost keys, please call her office at 729-4144.The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be held Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Captain Lee Ann Kenley, commanding officer of Troop I, announced that a boating safety certification course will be offered to the public on Saturday, March 24^th at the Troop I Headquarters located at 1301 Nagogami Road in Rolla. The class will begin at noon and conclude at approximately 6:00 p.m. There is no fee for this course; however, students are required to pre-register online, as seating will be limited. For more information, to register for the course, or to obtain a complete listing of where other courses are being offered, you may visit the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s website, www.mshp.dps.mo.gov. Once there, select “Divisions”, “Water Patrol Division”, and then “Boater Safety Education & Certification”.  On the day of the class, the “Boater Safety” link also will post if the course is being cancelled due to an insufficient number of participants. Missouri law requires any person born after January 1^st, 1984, to carry a boating safety certification card along with a picture ID anytime they operate a vessel, which includes personal watercraft, on Missouri lakes. Any student who successfully passes the course will be eligible to order the boating safety certification card for $15.

Round two of the 2012 Rally America National Championship takes place in the Rally in the 100-Acre Wood today and Saturday, February 25^th in Salem. The Rally in the 100-Acre Wood will begin at 12:00 pm today, with a Parc Expose in Steelville. Fans can attend the Parc Expose to seek autographs and pick up spectator information before heading to various spots in the woods to watch the exciting rally action. Another Parc Expose will kick off the action on Saturday, February 25^th in downtown Salem at the intersection of 4th & Main Street at 8:00 am. Two Super Special stages will take place that day at the Potosi Lions' Park beginning at 2:40pm. All Parc Expose’s and race viewing are free to attend. The Victory Celebration will take place in Salem Saturday night at 8:30.

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